Madagascar Protected Areas and Biodiversity Fund

The Fondation pour les aires protégées et la biodiversité de Madagascar (FAPBM), known in English as the Madagascar Protected Areas and Biodiversity Fund, is a private foundation established under Malagasy law as an innovative financing mechanism for the country's protected areas. It was created in 2005 on the initiative of the Malagasy State, WWF and Conservation International, with the aim of guaranteeing a robust and lasting financing model for the preservation of Madagascar's natural heritage. The State contributed €1.725 million to the foundation's capital, while Conservation International made a founding grant of USD 1 million. FAPBM operates as an endowment or trust fund: its capital is invested in international markets, and only the returns from those investments are spent to finance protected areas in Madagascar. Because the capital remains intact over time, the mechanism is designed to ensure sustainable and predictable funding for biodiversity. The foundation finances both protected areas managed by Madagascar National Parks (MNP) and newer protected areas managed by NGOs and conservation associations. In 2022 it supported 48 of the 123 fully established protected areas in the national network. By 2025, thanks to contributors including Conservation International, WWF, the Agence Française de Développement (AFD), the Fonds Français pour l'Environnement Mondial (FFEM), KfW and the Global Environment Facility, FAPBM was working to preserve 75 protected areas spread over more than 6 million hectares. It describes itself as the leading trust fund for biodiversity conservation in Africa, with a capital of USD 157 million. Its stated key figures include 99.32% maintained forests, more than 500 species protected, more than 6 million hectares preserved, 75 protected areas funded, a biological integrity index of 2.94/5 and USD 5.5 million in funding granted. FAPBM's mission is to contribute to the sustainable financing of the System of Protected Areas of Madagascar (SAPM), to the conservation of biodiversity, to the maintenance of ecosystem services, to the fight against climate change and to the well-being of the population, and to promote good management within the SAPM. It is recognized internationally for its expertise in financing protected areas, its transparency, its good governance of funds, the relevance of its interventions to national and global priorities, and its lasting impacts. Its founders were the Malagasy Government, represented by the late Sylvain Rabotoarison; Conservation International, represented by the late Léon Rajaobelina; and WWF, represented by Jean Paul Paddack.

The Fondation pour les aires protégées et la biodiversité de Madagascar (FAPBM) was created in 2005 on the initiative of the Malagasy State, WWF and Conservation International. Its purpose was to guarantee a robust and lasting financing model dedicated to preserving Madagascar's natural heritage. As a contribution to the foundation's capital, the Malagasy State participated to the tune of €1.725 million. Conservation International, for its part, granted a donation of USD 1 million through the signing of an agreement as a founder. The founders were the Malagasy Government, represented by the late Sylvain Rabotoarison; Conservation International, represented by the late Léon Rajaobelina; and WWF, represented by Jean Paul Paddack. Since its creation, many contributors have supported the foundation, including notable partners such as Conservation International, WWF, the German Government through the development bank KfW, the French Government, the Agence Française de Développement (AFD), the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the World Bank and the Fonds Français pour l'Environnement Mondial (FFEM). In 2014, FAPBM celebrated its 10th anniversary and became the first environmental foundation in Africa, with a capital of USD 52 million. In 2022, the foundation's capital was raised to USD 138 million with the objective of extending financing to 70 protected areas of the SAPM covering 5,275,400 hectares by 2026. By 2025, FAPBM was working to preserve 75 protected areas spread over more than 6 million hectares, and it describes itself as the leading trust fund for biodiversity conservation in Africa, with a capital of USD 157 million. The foundation operates as an endowment: its capital is invested in international markets and only the returns are spent to finance protected areas in Madagascar, so that the capital remains intact over time and the sustainability of biodiversity funding is secured. After more than 15 years, and later after 20 years of existence, the mechanism is presented as central because it is the only one capable of ensuring sustainable and predictable financing for protected areas. FAPBM finances both protected areas managed by Madagascar National Parks (MNP) and new protected areas (NAP) managed by NGOs and/or conservation associations. In 2022, the foundation supported 48 protected areas out of the 123 fully established protected areas in the existing network. Its interventions target biodiversity conservation, community development activities, the perpetuation of protected areas and the effectiveness of managers. It provides annual grants, an emergency fund, and a Protected Areas Capacity Building Support Fund (FAR-AP), among other financing mechanisms.

• 2026

  Madagascar protects an additional 1.82 million hectares, as reported by FAPBM.

• 2025

  FAPBM works to preserve 75 protected areas spread over more than 6 million hectares, with a capital of USD 157 million.

• 2022

  The foundation's capital is raised to USD 138 million, with the objective of extending financing to 70 protected areas covering 5,275,400 ha by 2026.

• 2014

  FAPBM celebrates its 10th anniversary and becomes the first environmental foundation in Africa, with a capital of USD 52 million.

• 2005

  FAPBM is created on the initiative of the Malagasy State, WWF and Conservation International.

The leading trust fund for biodiversity conservation in Africa, recognized for transparency, good governance and sustainable, predictable financing of Madagascar's protected areas.

• Annual grants

  Annual subsidies granted to protected areas, forming the core of FAPBM's work, helping managers secure means for good management and fulfil their mandate.

• Emergency fund

  A fund allocated to protected area managers to address situations of necessity or emergency, such as punctual, unpredictable and urgent threats to a habitat, species or the ecological integrity of the protected area.

• Protected Areas Capacity Building Support Fund (FAR-AP)

  A fund supporting capacity building and support missions for protected area managers to improve management quality and effectiveness.

• Project financing and financial management

  Financing of projects for which FAPBM ensures financial management.

1. 1Home - Fondation pour les Aires Protégées et la Biodiversité de Madagascarfapbm.org
2. 2Who we are - Fondation pour les Aires Protégées et la Biodiversité de Madagascarfapbm.org
3. 3Fondation pour les aires protégées et la biodiversité de Madagascar - Wikidatawikidata.org
4. 4Fondation pour les aires protégées et la biodiversité de Madagascar - Wikipédiafr.wikipedia.org